Britain may be enjoying its best summer for years but most MPs are heading abroad for their holidays.

As many as 67% of members of Parliament are likely to have a break overseas this summer, according to a survey conducted for travel organisation Abta.

Based on responses from 157 MPs and weighted to be representative of the Commons by party and region, the survey showed Welsh MPs were the keenest to head abroad, followed by those from the Midlands and the north of England.

MPs from London were least likely to take a trip overseas, with only 60% planning to do so.

Of MPs born after 1960, a total of 71% were preferring a foreign holiday, compared with only 54% of those born before 1950. Male MPs (69%) were more likely to go abroad than women ones (62%).

Those elected since 2010 were more likely to holiday in the UK than those who took their seats before 1986.

Abta said that the holiday plans of the three main party leaders were already known.

Prime Minister David Cameron is currently in Portugal with plans to visit Cornwall later in the year, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has already had a holiday in Spain and has another booked in France, and Labour leader Ed Miliband will enjoy a fortnight in the south of France.

Abta's senior public affairs and research manager Stephen D'Alfonso said: "Our annual MP holiday survey shows that for MPs, like many of their constituents, a summer holiday abroad is part of the British lifestyle.

"We'd ask MPs, as they head on these holidays, to think about the effect of air passenger duty, the Government's tax-take from flying, will have on family budgets and on our ability to enjoy summer holidays abroad."